Privacy Bed Shade

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed at a bed shade which alleviates interference with one partner&#39;s sleep schedule, when the other partner has a different sleep routine. Such bed shade may also alleviate exchange of biologics between partners. The bed shade includes a vertical shaft attached to a base, and a foldable shade. The bottom base has a rectangular horizontal plate and a triangular vertical plate attached perpendicular to each other. The vertical shaft has a first and second end. The second end attaches to the vertical plate. The foldable shade attaches to the vertical shaft. The foldable shade includes an accordion fan having a first stabilizing bar, a second stabilizing bar and a triangular sheet disposed between both the first and the second stabilizing bars. Optionally, a lock engages the second stabilizing bar in a vertical orientation to store the accordion fan when the bed shade is not in use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application seeks priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/337,347 entitled “Privacy Bed Divider” filed on Feb. 3, 2010 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a privacy shade and more particularly to a three-part assembly that forms a privacy divider for use in a bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The master bedroom remains one of the most functional and well-used rooms within the home. With the decreased costs in entertainment systems such as plasma televisions, cable broadcasting and the Wi-Fi Internet—couples now find the master bedroom as a site where one partner may be watching television, while the other partner may be reading a book or surfing the Internet on a laptop or tablet computer. These activities are often associated with winding down after a long day of work—such that the master bedroom becomes a bastion for catching up, relaxing and recharging.

Often, partners may have different sleep schedules, professional hours, exercise routines and commute time—such that their sleep routines largely overlap yet nonetheless differ by a period of an hour or so. Because of this, one partner may want to go to bed in order to awake early to exercise or begin their commute while the other partner desires to stay up later to relax, finish a book, or catch up on emails or their favorite social networking site. Such is the reality in our multi-media and connected lifestyles.

Accordingly, one issue faced amongst couples is the ability to share the master bedroom, while these partners are on different sleep schedules. Put another way, a growing problem has arisen when the one partner needs to sleep while the other (on a later sleep schedule) can enjoy multi-media without disturbing the other. This becomes a major problem due to the illumination of laptop and tablet computers (or alternatively a reading light or table lamp), which can cause a distraction that can prevent sleep. Another issue is the exchange of biologics. When a couple is asleep and facing each other, often times there is an unpleasant exchange of breathing on one another that can lead to disruption of sleep.

There is a need in the art for a foldable device that can be used in the master bedroom that will provide some form of barrier to allow one partner to enjoy multi-media with the other partner sleeps. The barrier also prevents the exchange of biologics from breathing. Such a device should be easily removable and provide some level of sound dissipation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention alleviates interference with one partner's sleep schedule, when the other partner has a different sleep routine. Moreover, the invention allows one partner to enjoy multi-media such as a book, reviewing content on a laptop, or use of a tablet computer without distracting the other user as well as the prevention of the interference of one partner breathing on the other. One embodiment of the invention may include a three-part constructed bed shade having a bottom base, a vertical shaft, and a foldable shade which acts and forms as a translucent barrier about each partner's head. The bottom base may include a horizontal plate and a vertical plate, which are perpendicular to each other. The horizontal plate is essentially thin, flat and rectangular and includes first edge, a second edge, a front edge and a back edge. In contrast, the vertical plate is essentially thin, flat and may be triangular having a bottom edge. The back edge of the horizontal plate is affixed via a fastener to the bottom edge of the vertical plate.

A second component of the bed shade is a vertical shaft having a first end and a corresponding second end wherein the second end is attached to the vertical plate. A third component is a foldable shade which is affixed to the second end of the vertical shaft. The foldable shade may take the form of an accordion fan having a first stabilizing bar a second stabilizing bar and a triangular sheet disposed between both the first stabilizing bar and the second stabilizing bar. When the first stabilizing bar is in a vertical orientation and the second stabilizing bar is in a horizontal orientation this structure allows the triangular sheet to remain taught. Optionally, the first stabilizing bar includes a lock which can engage and maintain the second stabilizing bar in a vertical orientation to allow the accordion fan to be stored when the bed shade is not in use.

The bed shade can be secured for use by placing the horizontal plate between a mattress and box spring of a typical bed. Through the weight of the mattress, the horizontal plate may securely rest upon the surface of the box spring. This in turn stabilizes the vertical plate and thereby the vertical shaft. The vertical shaft should be sufficiently long based upon the pile of the mattress.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating various embodiments of the present invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bed shade;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the components of the bottom base holder;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the bottom base holder; and

FIG. 4 side view showing use of the bed shade where the bottom base holder is positioned between the mattress and box spring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

The Overall Assembly for the Bed Shade

FIG. 1 illustrates the salient components 101 of a bed shade 100. As shown, the bed shade 100 is preferably of three-part construction having a bottom base 200, a vertical shaft 230, and a foldable shade 300. Other additional components 101 and features will be known and understood by those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following Figures and disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates, by way of example, one structure for the bottom base 200. The bottom base 200 functions to hold and secure the foldable shade 300. While such bottom base 200 can take a variety of shapes and forms, it is preferably “L” shaped having both a horizontal plate 210 which is affixed to a vertical plate 220 through a fastener 225. As shown, such vertical plate 220 is essentially perpendicular to the horizontal plate 210. Both plates 210 and 220 are preferably made of a strong, resilient yet lightweight material such as sheets of aluminum, hard plastic or composite.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the horizontal plate 210 is preferably flat and rectangular in shape and dimension. Such horizontal plate 210 includes a first edge 211, a corresponding second edge 212, a front edge 213 and a corresponding back edge 214. The first and second edges 211 and 212 are essentially parallel to one another. Likewise, the front and back edges 213 and 214 are essentially parallel.

While likewise flat, the vertical plate 220 is essentially triangular in shape and dimension. Accordingly, the vertical plate 220 includes a first edge 221, a second edge 222 and a bottom edge 223. Here, the bottom edge 223 of the vertical plate 220 connects via a fastener 225 to the back edge 214 of the horizontal plate 210.

As shown in FIG. 3, positioned at the top of the vertical plate 220 is the vertical shaft 230 which acts as the backbone for the bed shade 100. As shown in both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the vertical shaft 230 includes a top end 231, a bottom end 232, and a tubular sheath 233. The bottom end 232 of the vertical shaft 230 attaches to the vertical plate 220 proximate to whether the first end 221 and second end 222 meet.

While FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a single member tubular sheath 233, the invention also contemplates an alternative telescoping sheath 234 (shown in FIG. 3) which may include a first telescoping portion 235 and a corresponding second telescoping portion 236. The first telescoping portion 235 has a diameter less than the second telescoping portion 236. Here, a section of the second telescoping portion 236 can be placed and located within the first telescoping portion 235. A spring action member 236 and be positioned within the second telescoping portion 236 so as to engage with the first telescoping portion 235. Accordingly, such telescoping sheath 236 would allow a user to adjust the vertical height of the foldable shade 300.

As shown in FIG. 1, the foldable shade 300 is positioned proximate the top end 231 of the vertical shaft 230. As shown, the foldable shade 300 has a shape and orientation of an accordion fan 310. Such accordion fan 310 includes a first stabilizing bar 311, a second stabilizing bar 318, and a hinge 318. As shown, the hinge 318 connects the first stabilizing bar 311 to the second stabilizing bar 312. Moreover, the second stabilizing bar 312 is able to rotate and pivot through use of the hinge 318 in relation to the stationary first stabilizing bar 311—which is affixed to the tubular sheath 233.

When the accordion fan 310 is in operation (as shown in FIG. 1), the first stabilizing bar 311 is in a vertical position, while the second stabilizing bar 312 is in a horizontal position. Positioned between both stabilizing bars 311 and 312 is a ribbed triangular sheet 315. Such triangular sheet 315 is capable of folding up when the second stabilizing bar 312 is rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position. Optionally, a lock 316 is positioned about the distal end of the first stabilizing bar 311 so as to engage and secure the distal end of the second stabilizing bar 312 to maintain both bars 311 and 312 in a vertical position while the bed shade 100 is not in use. Correspondingly, upon release of the lock 316, the second stabilizing bar 312 will naturally position itself into a horizontal position thus pulling the triangular sheet 315 taught.

Placement and Use of the Bed Shade

FIG. 4 illustrates, by way of example, one manner of placement of the bed shade 100. As shown, the bed shade 100 can be secured for use by placing the horizontal plate 210 of the bottom base 200 between the mattress 410 and box spring 420 of a typical bed 400. Through the weight of the mattress 410, the horizontal plate 210 securely rests upon the surface of the box spring 420. This in turn stabilizes the vertical plate 220 and thereby the vertical shaft 230. The tubular sheath 243 of the vertical shaft 230 should be sufficiently long based upon the pile of the mattress 410.

Alternatively, the bottom base 200 can rest upon the top surface 415 of the mattress 410. In such an arrangement, the horizontal plate 210 should have a sufficient length and dimension to ensure that the foldable shade 300 does not topple over. Put another way, the horizontal plate 210 must be able to maintain the weight of both the ribbed triangular sheet 315 and the second stabilizing bar 312 of the accordion fan 310.

Under either positioning of the bottom base 200 above, the vertical shaft 230 will be capable of maintaining the accordion fan 310 which will create a privacy barrier dividing the mattress 410 into two separate areas. Accordingly, one user (U) will be able to view their laptop or tablet computer without disturbing another user as the other side of the accordion fan 310. 

1. A bed shade comprising: a bottom base having a horizontal plate and a vertical plate attached perpendicular to the horizontal plate; a vertical shaft having a first end and a corresponding second end, wherein the second end is attached to the vertical plate; and a foldable shade affixed to the second end of the vertical shaft.
 2. The bed shade of claim 1, wherein the foldable shade is an accordion fan having a first stabilizing bar, a second stabilizing bar and a triangular sheet disposed between both the first stabilizing bar and the second stabilizing bar.
 3. The bed shade of claim 1, wherein the horizontal plate is essentially thin, flat and rectangular.
 4. The bed shade of claim 3, wherein the horizontal plate includes a first edge, a second edge, a front edge and a back edge.
 5. The bed shade of claim 4, wherein the vertical plate is essentially thin, flat and triangular having a bottom edge.
 6. The bed shade of claim 5, wherein the back edge of the horizontal plate is affixed via a fastener to the bottom edge of the vertical plate.
 7. The bed shade of claim 2, wherein the first stabilizing bar is in a vertical orientation and the second stabilizing bar is in a horizontal orientation which allows the triangular sheet to remain taught.
 8. The bed shade of claim 2, further comprising a lock operable with the first stabilizing bar for engaging and maintaining the second stabilizing bar in a vertical orientation to allow the accordion fan to be stored when the bed shade is not in use.
 9. A bed shade, comprising: a base; a vertical shaft having a first end and a corresponding second end wherein the second end is attached to the base; and a foldable shade affixed to the second end of the vertical shaft, wherein the foldable shade is an accordion fan having a first stabilizing bar a second stabilizing bar and a triangular sheet disposed between both the first stabilizing bar and the second stabilizing bar.
 10. The bed shade of claim 9, wherein the horizontal plate is essentially thin, flat and rectangular.
 11. The bed shade of claim 10, wherein the base includes a horizontal plate having a first edge, a second edge, a front edge and a back edge.
 12. The bed shade of claim 11, wherein the vertical plate is essentially flat and triangular having a bottom edge.
 13. The bed shade of claim 12, further comprising a fastener affixed to the back edge of the horizontal plate.
 14. The bed shade of claim 9, wherein the first stabilizing bar is in a vertical orientation and the second stabilizing bar is in a horizontal orientation which allows the triangular sheet to remain taught.
 15. The bed shade of claim 9, wherein the first stabilizing bar includes a lock which can engage and maintain the second stabilizing bar in a vertical orientation to allow the accordion fan to be stored when the bed shade is not in use.
 16. A bed shade comprising a base; a shaft attached to the base; and a foldable shade affixed to the shaft wherein the foldable shade is an accordion fan having a first stabilizing bar a second stabilizing bar and a triangular sheet disposed between both the first stabilizing bar and the second stabilizing bar.
 17. The bed shade of claim 16, wherein the first stabilizing bar is in a vertical orientation and the second stabilizing bar is in a horizontal orientation which allows the triangular sheet to remain taught.
 18. The bed shade of claim 16, wherein the first stabilizing bar includes a lock for engaging and maintaining the second stabilizing bar in a vertical orientation to allow the accordion fan to be stored when the bed shade is not in use. 